The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-04
EDUCATION OF MINISTER'S
President Benton's Suggestions Regard
ing Preparations for Preaching.
Election of Directors for Bethany Park-Ser-
vices Held at Action and Bruce Parks,
To-days Programmes of Exercises.

The largest crowd of the year was at Bethany
yesterday. The cooler weather makes the place
enjoyable The lake in the evening was covered
with boats and filled with bathers. The water
works of the park and the lake add wonderfully
to the enjoyment.
t. 5. Rhodes. of Edinburg, opened the exer-
cises of the day with prayer. after which
President A. r. Benton of Butler University,
delivered an address on ministerial Education"
The Scriptures recognize in various ways Prof.
Benton said, the need of preparation for preach
ing Wild enthusiasts may imagine that God
now puts words into the mouths of men, that
he inspires the thought and its utterances as he
did for the inexperienced Apostles, when sent to
preach the approach of the kingdom OF
God. Unlike these early inspired teachers, the
m odern evangelist, who claims to speak by Di
vine impulse despising study &ad learning. often
speaks what is neither difficult to gainsay or re-
sst. When Paul exhorted Timothy to give
himself to study to reading, to
knowledge of the Scriptures, he evil
IDENTIFY spoke from his own deep experience
and habit of life. No fancifu illumination of
the mind, no his torical outpourings of religious
feeling should be allowed to suppant in the pub
lie ministry Of the word. the serious discourse,
the truthful doctrine. the rational. earnest ap-
peal of the able minister of the Gospel. This
method of reason and of Scripture will require
study and devout meditation. In the discus
sion of this complex subject the speaker invited
attention to three general topics. The first had
reference to the man himself; the second to the
doctrine he is to teach. and the third to the
dition of the society for which he labors
A minister. be he evangelist pastor.
who does not have the wisdom to put himself
into easy, pleasant relations with those whom
he addresses. has quite mistaken his calling. 1t
Is rule OF common sense. as 1t Is OF rhetoric
that the good will of the hearers be secured.
Many things tend to imperil this important end
some of false education; others of habit and
temperament A minister may lose his hold
upon the most In elligent OF his hearers by some
infeiicity of manner or gross inaccuracy in gram
something disagreeabe in the
pitch or meditation of the voice: or,
again an unnatural, distorted. facial preston
the patient adroitness of the fisherman IS used
by the Savior as type OF the wisdom and skill
that will satch men Doctor Bellows is quoted
erman of common would do-tie a bent
pin string of tow, fasten this to a crooked
stick and then go along the creek thrashing the
water and saying bite be dammed-bite or
be damned. This homely comparison ls in its
spirit. said the peaker, too often true of those
who are sent be the fishers of men.
Ministerial education must have its chief
end sound doctrine. The education of the min
istry must also have respect to the conditions of
society in which the preacher is to labor, One
thing only ia unchangeable in the work of the
Christian minister. that is the message he is
commissioned to deliver The age also demands
of conviction. Unless man shall have
earnest convictions he will not be endured long
in the pulpit 1t is impossible to have power
with men unless one speaks as If with authority.
Truth must be spoken positively and with empha-
sis. A consecrated ministry is also demanded This
implies intense loyalty to Christ in life and doc
trine. In conclusion he said that ministerial
education has two branches-frsr, the subject
matter of preaching; second, the training of all
the powers of mind and heart effective popu-
lar speaking Neither of these can be neg
lected with safety. A sermon. in form. is an
oral address: in matter 1t is Christian truth; IN
purpose. to persuade the popular MIND.
In the afternoon the exercises were opened by
Rev. Conner an aged preacher, followed by his
son. James W. Conner then the son of the latter.
Erastus Conner. all preachers. representing three
generations. Then Henry r. Pritchard lectured
on "Demonology."
In the opening. Neil Mcleod of EvanssiisepN
preached on Power with God and Men"
Directors for Bethany Park elected as
follows For three years-A. Nj. Atkinson and
L. L. Carpenter. Wabash: A. j. Frank. Dan
vile; D. r. Van Buskirk and A c. Shortridge.
Indianapolis For two years-W S. Mont
gomery. of Nobesville J. w Conner. Rusnville,
and James r. Henry, Gosport.
Mrs. A. NJ. Atkinson, of Wabash, r. FL.
WAGNER, of Cincinnati. and GeorgeT. Smith. Of
Ak1ta Japan. left for Eureka, ILL.,, where the
Illinois State Christian Encampment is being
held this week
o'clock p. for Indianapolis will hereafter leave
at 9:lo P NJ. On Sunday there will be trains
to Bethany from Indianapolis, leaving the
Union depot at S45 A. NJ, and P.
To days programme is follows: Lecture.
by B. B. Tyler, of New York; Indiana State Mis-
sionary Society meets report of State Evauge-
list, j. III. 0. Smith; addresses bv H r.
Pritchard. of Indianapolis and III. W. Harkins,
of Greensburg